The Curse of the Golden Flower (2006)

Starring Chow Yun-Fat and Gong Li; Directed by Zhang Yimou

Curse of the Golden Flower is a visually stunning movie about a very dysfunctional family. The family happens to be the royal family of the Tang Dynasty (859 AD) in China, and the dissentions and misunderstandings and plots result in terrible consequences for all concerned.

We’ve seen two other amazing movies from Zhang Yimou—Hero and House of Flying Daggers. Each had striking visuals, and each told a tale about ancient China.

This story is set in one of the most opulent palaces you’ll ever see in your life. There’s the gleam of gold on every wall, seeming miles of silk and tapestries, tons of marble and jade, and hundreds of servants scurrying around at the beck and call of the Emperor (Chow Yun-Fat), the Empress (Gong Li), and the Emperor’s three sons. Each hour is rung out on bells, while the time-keeping servants describe the animal associated with the hour and what the hour means (e.g. “It’s 4 o’clock, the hour of the rat, heaven and earth are in balance, the Emperor keeps us safe,” etc.).

The tragedy (or curse) of the film comes from the confused and unhappy Imperial family. Discord arises early as the Empress comes to suspect that the medicine her husband is having her take may not be good for her. Other terrible inter-family things are going on, plus there’s a (somewhat) secret plot to overthrow the Emperor.

Chow Yun-Fat is not sympathetic as the cruel, power-hungry Emperor; he was far easier to love as a wise warrior in An Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. In this movie he out-smarts himself as well as the rest of his family. That isn’t a good thing as lives and loves and ambition hang in the balance, and each character in turn seems to make stupid or terrible choices (or both). If the Emperor had a little wisdom to balance his brilliance, the movie could have ended happily.

Sometimes I think the Chinese have a different idea of how to end a movie. American moviegoers tend to like happy endings: marriages, conquest of misfortune, etc. Chinese movies (to judge from Zhang Yimou’s films, at least), celebrate sacrifice, loss, and the seeming impossibility of attaining lasting happiness in life. Instead the characters must embrace the impermanence of things and accept their lot in life. No matter how great their martial arts skill, there are always armies of warriors ready to overwhelm them with sheer numbers if not with equal skill.

This movie includes some brutal moments. The scenes featuring the Emperor’s black-cloaked “ninjas” as they swoop down to attack are unforgettable, as are their weapons of choice. You definitely would never want to meet any of these guys in a dark alley. The scenes in the enormous square overlooking the Imperial palace range from beautiful (tens of thousands of chrysanthemums, the “golden flower” of the curse), to awe-inspiring (an attacking army running into unexpected obstacles).

This film is a spectacle, with visuals that well repay the viewer who can overlook the inherent sadness of the outcome. I suppose a film in which everyone is happy, and no one needs to hatch plots and counterplots and violent insurrections wouldn’t have been as interesting. To paraphrase the old Chinese curse, in this movie, the Imperial family is doomed to live in interesting times. Because of their poor choices and poor judgment, I’m afraid they deserve what they get.